Lancet.



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. SMITH, OF MULLEN, NEBRASKA.

LANCET.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Mullen, in the county of Hooker and State oiNebraska7 have invented new and useful Improvements in Lancets, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to lancets, and one ot the principal objects ofthesame is to provide a simple, reliable andy eflicient device forlancing the milk ducts of cows.

It is a well known fact that certain cows are diiiicult to milk owing tothe fact that the milk duct is obstructed either by nature or from othercauses. By lancing the milk ducts of such cows this difficulty isobviated.

lt is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a simpleand readily available device for lancing the milk ducts of the cowsteats. These and other objects may be attained by means of the construetion illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,--

Figure 1 is a plan view of a lancet made in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a portion of thehandle being broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the shank of thelancet, which is preferably made of a cross sectionally rounded taperingsolid steel rod having a rounded edge 2 and being integrally formed adistance away from its edge with diametrically opposite cutting members3. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted thatthe integrally formed cutting members 3 are centrally of a widthequaling the thickness of the rod 1 and that their cutting edge 4 isarranged longitudinally cen tral of the rod or shank 1. The cuttingedge, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing is curved in lan and theshank 1 is secured within a suitable handle 5 vprovided with a ferrule6. The cuttin members have their cutting edges substantially elliptical.The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 15, 1909.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Serial No. 517,833. f

said cutting edges arising gracefully from their connection with theshank adjacent the entering end 2 and terminate somewhat abruptly attheir connection with the shank adjacent the handle for the shank. Thecutting edge is arranged central of each of the members and by referenceto Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the sides are curved, orare of an arcuate formation from the juncture of the opposite edges ofthe cutting elements, thus the said cutting elements are of a greaterthickness in their centers than at any other point and the said centersare arranged Hush with the shank.

In use, the rounded end 1 is inserted within the lower duct of the teatand is pushed upward until the sharp edges 4 cut the obstruction in theduct. The peculiar shape of the cutting members will allow the same toperform their functions without unnecessary pain to the animal, therounded sides forcing the obstruction toward each side of the duct toprovide a clear passage therein.

My device is of simple construction and is easy to use. The edges 4 maybe readily sharpened whenever they become dull without the use ofspecial tools. It will be further noted that by constructing the cuttingmembers 3 as above described the obstruction Within the milk duct willbe cut by the sharpened edges 4 of the members 3 and that the saidconstruction will be effectively opened by the thickened portion of thecutting members 3, so as to eiectively provide for the free passage ofthe milk.

I claim z- The herein described construction of lancets, comprising ashank which is rounded in cross section, and which is flared toward itsouter reduced and rounded end, cutting elements integrally formed uponthe shank and arranged directly opposite each other upon the oppositesides of the shank and at a distance from the rounded end of the shank,the said cutting elements being substantially elliptical and terminatingin cut-- ting edges central of the major axis thereof,

substantially elliptical at 'its longitudinal juncture with the shank.

In testimony whereof I ath); my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED C. SMITH.

the said cutting elements having their cuttingl edges curved upwardlyand gradually from their juncture with the shank and adjacent therounded end thereof, the rear portions oi the edges of the said cuttingelements being rounded abruptly to their junc- Witnesses: ture with theshank, and each of the said GARRETT, cutting' elements providing a bodywhich is I-I. L( PIERCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washngtony). C.

